Written by Jeremy Penkert

Let’s Go Ice Fishing!Ice fishing is a great way to take advantage of Minnesota’s cold weather and experience a fun winter adventure! This booklet includes information about fish, ice fishing equipment and safety, and dressing for winter. It is intended to accompany the ice fishing lessons in the MinnAqua Leaders Guide called Fishing: Get in the Habitat, published by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

This is a publication of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources500 Lafayette RoadSt. Paul, MN 55155-4040(651) 296-6157 (Metro Area)1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367) (MN Toll Free)www.dnr.state.mn.us

©2007, State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources

Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is available to all individuals regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, public assistance status, age, sexual orientation, disability or activity on behalf of a local human rights commission. Discrimination inquiries should be sent to Minnesota DNR, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4049; or the Equal Opportunity Office, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240.

This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities by calling (651) 296-6157 (Metro Area) or 1-888-MINNDNR (MN Toll Free) or Telecommunication Device for the Deaf/TTY: (651) 296-5484 (Metro Area) or 1-800-657-3929 (Toll Free TTY).

Printed on recycled paper containing a minimum of 25% post-consumer waste and soy-based ink.

Icy Fish I.D.Common Fish Caught Ice Fishing

Minnesota’s Official State Fish. The Minnesota state record is 17 pounds, 8 ounces. It has a large eye that reflects and magnifies the presence of light, which is used to help it find food in the deep water it lives in. This fish feeds at night, so many anglers will fish after the sun goes down or early in the morning. Good baits are fathead minnows, leeches, and night crawlers. What’s its name?

Worth 20 Points_____5 per correct answer

The Minnesota state record is 5 pounds. It has clear, paper‑thin lips and black speckles and is a member of the sunfish family. Catch it with crappie minnows, night crawlers, or wax worms. What’s its name?

The Minnesota state record is 2 pounds, 13 ounces. This fish is named for the blue color on the edge of its gill cover, or operculum. Use night crawlers, corn, or wax worms to catch this “panfish.” What’s its name?

The Minnesota state record is 45 pounds, 12 ounces. One of the most aggressive fish in Minnesota, it eats smaller fish such as sunfish, perch, and white sucker. It has a duck‑billed snout and very sharp teeth. Catch it with shiner and crappie minnows or a lure such as a jigging minnow. Tip‑ups are often used to catch this big fish in the winter. What’s its name?

In each of the words above, there is a circled letter. Unscramble the circled letters to reveal the mystery phrase.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ write in circled letters here

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ unscramble letters

clktae oxb _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (2 words) Holds your hooks, bobbers, and sinkers.iec oopsc _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (2 words) Clears snow from your hole in the ice.cie geura _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (2 words) Drill holes in the ice.

mfaliy nda rfeidns _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (3 words) Ask these people to take you ice fishing.xwa swrom _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (2 words) Fresh and wiggling.

jgglei tscki _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (2 words) Move this up and down to attract fish.ngiisfh iclnsee _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (2 words) For those 16 or older.tho hcoolctea _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (2 words) Warms you up inside.fstir dia tki _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (3 words) In case you need a band aid.

tekcub _ _ _ _ _ _ (1 word) To carry gear and sit on.

lcip‑no pedht ifndre _ _ _ _ ‑ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (4 words) Set your bobber.ldneee‑soned reilps _ _ _ _ _ _ ‑ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (2 words) Removes the hook.ulrre _ _ _ _ _ (1 word) Measures ice thickness and your fish.

regfinnlia ppsreilc _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (2 words) Cuts line.

Hidden Message

Ice Fishing ADVENTURE ChecklistUnscramble the words to come up with the gear you need to go ice fishing.

Worth 14 Points_____1 per correct answer

Worth 9 Points_____3 points per word

Clue: The most important rule when ice fishing!

2" or lessStay OFF!!!

Fishing Snowmobiling Drive Car Drive Medium Truck or ATV

When you go ice fishing you must pay attention to ice conditions so you don’t fall through. Do you know the ice thickness guidelines for new, clear, solid ice? Fill in how many inches thick the ice should be for each of the above activities. Look up the answers on the DNR Web site at mndnr.gov/safety/ice

Remember, other conditions can make ice unsafe. No ice is 100% safe!

Fill in the Blank

Ice Fishing Safety

1. Stay calm. 2. Turn towards the direction

you came from. 3. Place your hands or arms on

the ice surface and kick hard to slide your body onto the ice. If you have ice claws, dig the points of the picks into the ice.

Worth 20 Points_____5 per correct answer

What should you do if you fall through the ice?

4. Roll away from the area of weak ice.

5. Get to a warm and dry place as soon as possible and replace wet clothes with dry ones. Drink warm, non‑alcoholic, and non‑caffeinated drinks.

6. Seek medical assistance.

To make it easier to pull yourself onto the surface of the wet and slippery ice, you can purchase a set of commercially made ice rescue picks or “claws” or, if you have a few simple tools and a little skill in the workshop, you can make a set for a couple of dollars for materials.

Save Yourself!

Make a Set of Ice Rescue Claws

1. Get two 4" pieces of wooden doweling the size of a broom handle or a little larger.

2. Drive a stout nail into one end of each dowel. 3. Use a file to sharpen the nail heads to a point. 4. Drill a hole into the dowels (in the end opposite the nail) and tie

a length of strong cord through the hole so a pick is on each end “jump‑rope” fashion. You may also drill a hole in the ends alongside the nails so the nail on the other pick can nest in the hole, keeping both points covered. Keep the picks in your pocket for quick emergency.

Worth 10 Points_____

D S W S F T D V Z Y P I O J J G L G W N A S N S K I R U Q G S O Z P P E Z D A X J H Q M T I N S U L A T E D B O O T S E E G O L H M C T Q W D H I X W D U R W U A I G I U S A M O O N N O K P U D N N M B S E D O G D S W E A T S H I R T Y H L F E F T R E N P M E K X K V S R R Z P R I Z T Y O L C L E O V W J C M F O A S Z A O O T C T E O Z A R L K E Q O T L T K H A N D W A R M E R S Y M T S T R K O K C X L C A J H E F X Q O C K W S U P L H Z B I G R

HAND WARMERS HEAD BAND INSULATED BOOTSLAYERS LONG UNDERWEARMITTENS

Word Search

Ice Fishing Dress CodeWhat should you wear when you go ice fishing? Circle the words in the word search below. Words may be across, diagonal, up or down, or backwards.

SCARFSNOW PANTSSTOCKING CAPSWEATSHIRTWINTER COATWOOL SOCKS

Worth 12 Points_____1 per correct answer

1

2

3

5

9

10

11

12

7

8

4

6

ACROSS 1. Is ice always 100% safe? 3. Helps keep your icehouse warm 5. A potentially fatal condition

in which the core body temperature drops

6. This fish has black speckles and paper thin lips

7. You must purchase one if you are 16 or older and fish

8. Night crawlers, leeches, wax worms, and minnows

9. Used to drill your ice fishing holes

10. Used to catch bigger fish like northern pike

12. Minnesota’s Official State Fish

DOWN 1. This fish has a duck‑billed

snout 2. Ice you want to avoid 4. A popular fishing technique

where you move your bait or lure up and down in the water

6. You can turn this up‑side‑down and sit on it

8. This fish gets its name from the color of its gill cover

11. The number of lines you can have in the water at one time while ice fishing

Crossword Puzzle

Ice Fishing Jumble

Worth 15 Points_____1 per correct answer

Way to Go! You earn 10 points for your new set of ice rescue claws (whether you made your own or bought a pair). Put them in your winter coat pocket for the next time you go ice fishing.

Answers to Hidden Message: Ice Fishing Equipment Checklist

tackle boxice scoopice auger family and friendswax wormsjiggle stickfishing licensehot chocolatefirst aid kitbucketclip‑on depth finderneedle‑nosed pliersrulerfingernail clippers

Answer to mystery phrase: Put Safety First

Answers to Fill in the Blank: Ice Fishing Safety Quiz

4 inches for ice fishing5 inches for snowmobile or ATV (all‑terrain vehicle)8‑12 inches for car or small pickup12‑15 inches for a medium‑sized truck

Answers to Word Search: Ice Fishing Dress Code

Black Crappie

points earned

Answers to Crossword Puzzle: Ice Fishing Jumble

ACROSS1. no3. heater 5. hypothermia 6. black crappie7. license8. bait 9. auger 10. tip‑up 12. walleye

DOWN1. northern pike2. thin 4. jigging6. bucket8. bluegill 11. two

points earned

points earned

points earned

points earned

points earned

Answers to Icy Fish I.D. Common Fish Caught Ice Fishing

Bluegill

TOTAL SCORE:

Gold‑level expert: 90‑100Recreational angler: 70‑90Occasional angler: 50‑70

Not your bag: 0‑50

WalleyeNorthern Pike

Photo:DeborahRose,MN-DNR